St. Paul's College in Sydney, Australia, is a Protestant Anglican residential college for men located within the grounds of the University of Sydney. Founded in 1856, it is Australia's oldest University College. The College has 197 members, of whom approximately 150 are undergraduates, with the remainder undertaking graduate study or holding teaching positions at the University. It is the only men's college in Australia that still celebrates formal dinner five nights per week, to which College members wear tie, jacket and academic gown. The Reverend Canon Dr Ivan Head has governed the College as Warden since 1995.
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History
The building was designed by the English-born architect, Edmund Blacket, who also supervised the construction of Catholic St John's College.
Facilities
Breakfast and lunch are informal meals provided on a self-service basis. Each room has its own telephone extension with voicemail facility. Phones operate on a pre-paid system. All rooms contain a LAN port, enabling connection to the College network, the three College printers and the internet.
Cultural Life
Mummers
Mummers is the St. Paul's College Dramatic Society, and is one of the longest continuously-running University drama groups in Australia. College men are involved as actors, producers, directors and stage hands to create a theatrical production that can be enjoyed by the wider University community.
Sporting Life
Rather than being at odds with the academic culture, sport is integral to the St Paul's experience.
Rawson Cup
The Rawson Cup was donated by Sir Harry Rawson in 1906, and is now affectionately known by many college men as "Harry". Each year, St Paul's College competes for the Rawson Cup with the other men's Colleges located within the University of Sydney - Wesley, St Andrew's College and St. John's College. The Rawson sports are played throughout the university year, including: Cricket, Rowing, Rugby, Swimming and Diving, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball and Athletics. In the 21st century, the Rawson cup has been held only by two colleges, Wesley and St Paul's.
Social Sport
Informal touch football is also played by gentlemen every weeknight at 5pm on the College's oval. Touch is not elitist. All are welcome and many are academics taking a study break, heeding Juvenal's advice: "Mens sana in corpore sano".
Social Life
Salisbury Bar
St Paul's is the only College within Sydney University to have its own fully-licensed bar. The liquor licence has been closely guarded for years by licencee D.J. Drury. The Salisbury is located within the sandstone walls of the College and usually opens Sunday to Thursday from 8pm. Sundays and Wednesdays are the busiest nights, with the Bar and beer garden populated by carefree men. Most patrons are current collegians or guests of Paul's residents. Each year the Salisbury is run by a student syndicate committed to the legacy of Charles V. Salisbury, whose generous donation turned a dream into reality. The Salisbury has offered a safe and scholarly environment to meet other men of the same like of mind. The syndicate for 2007 consists of Alex Sutherland, Chris Alison, Simon Gelling and Rob Wilkinson. According to those who have been around long enough to remember, Salibury set a condition requiring the establishment of a bar for the residents. He reportedly declared that "no man should have to walk more than 50 metres for a safe beer".
Annual Events
During the year, the college holds a number of large events, of which the largest are Victoriana!, the Informal, Jazz Dinner Dance, and the College Formal.
Victoriana!
College Informal
Jazz Dinner Dance
The Jazz Dinner Dance ('JDD') is an intimate black tie occasion for Paulines and their guests. The evening is perhaps the most formal of the year, with attendees enjoying a 3 course feast, followed by the opportunity to dance the night away to a live jazz band in the Quadrangle.
College Formal
The College Formal is an annual spectacular, organised and run by a select committee of convenors, usually from amongst the more senior of the gentlemen. Up to 500 guests attend the black tie function, which combines a dance floor ruled by some of the prime artists of the day with a themed evening of extravagance. Usually held in the Quadrangle, recent themes have included Neon Mirage (2005 - Las Vegas) and Circus Royale (2004). The 2004 Formal took the event out on to the College Oval, with Dodgem Cars, a Jumping Castle, fire breathers and the largest travelling ferris wheel in Australia. Previous years have also allowed gentlemen to enjoy their evening bathing in hot tubs, riding hot air balloons and being dazzled by fireworks displays.
Notable Paulines
Politicians and Justices
- Former Australian Prime Minister, William McMahon
- Former Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam
- Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson
- Justice of the High Court of Australia, Dyson Heydon
- Former New South Wales Deputy Premier Andrew Refshauge
- Former National Convenor, Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, Justice Lloyd Waddy
Sportsmen
- Current Wallaby, Al Baxter
- Former Wallaby Captain, Current Insurance Australia Group CEO NRMA Michael Hawker
- Current NSW Waratah, Daniel Halangahu
- Current Western Force back rower, Tim Davidson
- Current NSW Cricketer, Ed Cowan
- Former Rugby League player, John Hopoate
- Australian Commonwealth games Rugby 7s Player, Luke Inman
Arts
- Journalist Tony Jones
- Radio personality Adam Spencer
- Lead singer of The Whitlams, Tim Freedman
- Journalist, David Marr
- Morgan O'Neill, Director of Solo - Winner of Project Greenlight Australia
- Comedian Chris Taylor of The Chaser
Gallery
 Main courtyard |
 Chapel |
External links
- Official website http://www.stpauls.edu.au
